Love it or hate it?

[grimo1re]

I noticed that people seem to either love or hate Neil Gaiman's American Gods. What other books do you know of like that?

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by grimo1re

I noticed that people seem to either love or hate Neil Gaiman's American Gods. What other books do you know of like that?

John Fowles' "French Lieutenant's Woman" was on my college reading list.
Everyone in the class loved it; but the lecturer thought it was rubbish.

Our combined efforts eventually obliged her to admit the error of her ways.

[Taylor514ce]

I guess the Lord of the Rings trilogy would have to fit into that category. Even people who love "The Hobbit" couldn't slog through LOTR.

Watership Down? I loved it enough that I have read it once a year for nearly 30 years. When I enthused about it to a friend, she read about 20 pages, and said "Uh, rabbits?" and quit.

[carld]

Originally Posted by grimo1re

I noticed that people seem to either love or hate Neil Gaiman's American Gods. What other books do you know of like that?

I'm just about to make my second attempt at reading American Gods. I started it with high expectations, it seemed like just my kind of book. I quickly realized I didn't like the writing style, or the main character. I gave up pretty quickly.

It's kind of odd, because I really enjoyed Coraline, so I don't think there's anything specific about his writing that I hate.

Battlefield Earth is another love/hate book. Some people dismiss it out of hand because of the author, and its use of familiar tropes, and the awful movie. But the book itself, once you strip out all the exterior stuff, is really a fun read.

Carl

[RWood]

Jonathan Livingston Seagull was that way. Others like Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance were more a case of getting it or not getting it. (I recommend both very highly.)

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by RWood

Jonathan Livingston Seagull was that way. Others like Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance were more a case of getting it or not getting it. (I recommend both very highly.)

I loved "Jonathon Livingston Seagull" when it first came out and I read it. That was many years ago, of course. Now, I'm not so sure I'd like it as well. Looking at life from a different perspective, maybe?

[Leep]

I recently tried Adverbs by Daniel Handler - gave up after 20 pages. Supposedly a set of interconnect stories about love, but I didn't get it. Anyone else like it?

[UncleDuke]

any mark twain book
we had it shoved on us when we were in school, good or not it developed a distaste
same for hamlet and his father

[hidari]

Originally Posted by Taylor514ce

I guess the Lord of the Rings trilogy would have to fit into that category. Even people who love "The Hobbit" couldn't slog through LOTR.

Watership Down? I loved it enough that I have read it once a year for nearly 30 years. When I enthused about it to a friend, she read about 20 pages, and said "Uh, rabbits?" and quit.

I read the Hobbit and LOTR several times each; but that was 25 years ago. I enjoyed them then. But, nowadays I do not think they would be as enjoyable, plus my tastes have changed.

Zen and The Art of..... love that book. I get it.

[grimo1re]

Originally Posted by Taylor514ce

Watership Down? I loved it enough that I have read it once a year for nearly 30 years. When I enthused about it to a friend, she read about 20 pages, and said "Uh, rabbits?" and quit.

Hmmm yes, I think that one indeed is one of "those" books. I tried it years ago and hated it while everybody around me loved it. Perhaps I should try again, just one more time...